Baked Ziti with Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ziti pasta
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 32 ounces Marinara sauce
• 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 Egg
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti pasta until slightly underdone (al dente), about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain.

3. 3

   In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until browned and crumbled. Drain excess fat.

4. 4

   In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the parmesan cheese until well combined.

5. 5

   In the large pot used for pasta, combine the cooked ziti, sausage, and marinara sauce. Stir in the ricotta mixture gently to create creamy streaks.

6. 6

   Transfer half of the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

7. 7

   Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

8. 8

   Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.

9. 9

   Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.